A damp but drying Nurburgring track awaited the entrants for the fourth round of the 2015 WEC as they took part in the first of two 90-minute Free Practice sessions, the first after the long summer break.
With the track conditions and temperatures improving lap by lap, it was the No.7 Audi R18 etron quattro that emerged fastest, with Andre Lotterer setting a best of 1m39.201. The time was good enough for P1 despite the best efforts of Neel Jani in the No.18 Porsche 919 Hybrid who got within 0.076s of Lotterer’s ultimate quickest tour.
It was Audi/Porsche for third and fourth with the No.8 Audi just 0.005s ahead of the No.17 Porsche 919 Hybrid! With the top four covered by just 0.7s, FP1 was a mouth-watering start to what looks set to be a classic all-German fight for supremacy in the 6 Hours of Nurburgring on Sunday.
Toyota Racing completed the session in fifth and sixth with the No.2 Toyota Racing heading the reigning champion No.1 TS 040 HYBRID. Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastein Buemi set the times respectively.
Rebellion Racing was the lead LMP1 privateer with Nick Heidfeld setting a time of 1m47.433s at his home circuit in the Rebellion R-One-AER.
G-Drive Racing secured a 1-2 in LMP2 with the No.26 Ligier-Nissan heading the No.28 sister car. Gustavo Yacaman set the time of 1m46.631s which was almost a second clear of his stablemate Sam Bird’s time. The No.26 car however was confined to the pits for the first half of the session.
In LMGTE Pro it was reigning champions AF Corse who sat atop the times with Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander leading the way with a best of 1m55.661s, set by Bruni.
The LMGTE Am class also saw AF Corse at the top with the No.83 Ferrari 458 Italia quickest on a 1m57.876s. Rui Aguas set the fastest lap as the team aims to continue its fine start to the season which has so far netted them a podium position in every race.
The 90-minute session was briefly halted to recover the ByKolles Racing entry after Simon Trummer spun at the final corner.
The second Free Practice session will begin at 16.30 local time.
CLICK HERE for the results from FP1
Pit notes from FP1
2015-08-28 13:34:44;In GTE Am #83 Ferrari fastest from #98 Aston and #88 Porsche;;;
2015-08-28 13:33:43;In GTE Pro #51 Ferrari fastest from #71 Ferrari and #92 Porsche;;;
2015-08-28 13:32:43;In P2 #28 Ligier fastest from #26 Ligier and #42 Gibson;;;
2015-08-28 13:31:40;In P1 Audi #7 fastest from Porsche #18 and Audi #8;;;
2015-08-28 13:30:17;Chequered Flag;;;
2015-08-28 13:29:21;1:46.631 now for Yucaman in Ligier #28;;;
2015-08-28 13:27:44;1:47.679 fastest in P2 for Yacaman in #28 Ligier ;;;
2015-08-28 13:26:32;1:55.661 for Bruni in Ferrari #51 fastest in GTE Pro;;;
2015-08-28 13:25:35;1:47.857 for Yacaman now;;;
2015-08-28 13:24:41;1:48.023 for Yacaman in #28 Ligier fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 13:20:28;1:56.035 fastest in GTE Pro for Rigon in #71;;;
2015-08-28 13:19:37;1:57.876 fastest in GTE Am for Aguas in Ferrari #83;;;
2015-08-28 13:14:18;1:58.093 fastest for Lamy in #98 Aston fastest in GTE Am;;;
2015-08-28 13:13:15;1:49.490 for Panciatici now;;;
2015-08-28 13:12:44;1:50.084 fastest for Panciatici in #36 Alpine fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 13:11:52;1:59.958 fastest in GTE Am for #88 Porsche of Bamber;;;
2015-08-28 13:10:30;1:57.252 for Pilet in #92 Porsche fastest In GTE Pro;;;
2015-08-28 13:08:45;1:39.201 fastest for Lotterer in Audi #7 fastest overall;;;
2015-08-28 13:07:47;1:50.788 for Panciatici in #36 Alpine fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 13:02:43;Green Flag;;;
2015-08-28 12:58:03;CLM #4 stopped at turn 17 - RED FLAG;;;
2015-08-28 12:57:22;2:05.793 for Poulsen in #50 Corvette fastest in GTE Am;;;
2015-08-28 12:56:20;1:51.847 for Panciatici in #36 Alpine;;;
2015-08-28 12:55:05;1:54.029 for Panciatici in #36 Alpine fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:51:01;1:54.436 fastest for Gonzalez in #28 Ligier fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:48:56;2:04.057 fastest in GTE Pro for Calado in Ferrari #71;;;
2015-08-28 12:47:49;1:41.301 now fastest for Webber in Porsche #17;;;
2015-08-28 12:45:44;All cars seen on track except #26 Ligier #43 Morgan and #91 Porsche;;;
2015-08-28 12:43:05;1:55.095 for Kane in Gibson #42 fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:39:29;1:41.853 for Webber in Porsche #17 fastest overall;;;
2015-08-28 12:38:15;2:04.950 fastest in GTE Pro for Vilander in Ferrari #51;;;
2015-08-28 12:36:35;1:57.192 for Kane in Gibson #42 fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:35:50;1:42.766 for Webber in Porsche #17 now fastest;;;
2015-08-28 12:34:53;1:58.810 for Kane in #42 Gibson fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:33:42;1:44.306 for Fassler in Audi #7 now fastest;;;
2015-08-28 12:28:46;1:46.148 now fastest for Fassler in Audi #7;;;
2015-08-28 12:26:44;2:06.721 fastest for Long in Porsche #77;;;
2015-08-28 12:25:50;1:48.311 now fastest for di Grassi in Audi #8;;;
2015-08-28 12:24:54;2:01.879 fastest in P2 for Capillaire in #36 Alpine;;;
2015-08-28 12:23:53;1:48.759 for Webber in Porsche #17 now fastest;;;
2015-08-28 12:22:11;Porsche #88 stopped @ Turn 9;;;
2015-08-28 12:19:16;2:07.329 fastest in GTE Am for Bertolini in #72 Ferrari;;;
2015-08-28 12:18:13;2:06.343 fastest in GTE Pro for Rigon in #71 Ferrari;;;
2015-08-28 12:17:21;2:06.868 for Rigon in #71 fastest in GTE Pro 2:07.821 fastest in GTE Am for Ruberti in Corvette #50;;;
2015-08-28 12:14:41;1:49.515 fastest for Webber in Porsche #17;;;
2015-08-28 12:14:00;2:09.182 fastest in GTE Am for Bertolini in Ferrari #72;;;
2015-08-28 12:12:46;2:02.414 for Chatin in #36 Alpine fastest in P2;;;
2015-08-28 12:11:01;2:09.131 fastest in GTE Pro for Vilander in Ferrari #51;;;
2015-08-28 12:08:39;Chatin in #36 Alpine fastest in P2 with 2:04.203;;;
2015-08-28 12:07:41;Fassler in Audi #7 sets 1:50.003;;;
2015-08-28 12:06:05;Davidson in Toyota #1 sets 1:51.676;;;
2015-08-28 12:04:16;Davidson in Toyota #1 sets 2:11.177;;;
2015-08-28 12:00:02;Green Flag;;;
2015-08-28 11:59:34;Wet track;;;
2015-08-28 11:55:59;Track temperature is 16C Air temp 13C;;;
2015-08-28 11:54:53;Free Practice 1 starts in 5 minutes;;;
2015-08-28 11:18:31;The #43 Morand Morgan is not currently at the circuit;;;
2015-08-28 10:57:29;Earl Bamber replaces Klaus Bachler in Proton Porsche #88;;;
2015-08-28 10:56:52;Late driver change Archie Hamilton replaces Zoel Amberg in #43 Morand Morgan;;;
